Shipping and launching container



Allg- 16, 1966 H. J. MACK ETAL SHIPPING AND LAUNCHING CONTINER FiledAug. 27, 1954 ATTORNEYS United States The invention described herein maybe manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United Statesof America for governmental purposes without the payment of anyroyalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to containers and more particularly tocombination storage, shipping, and launching containers.

Various air-launched equipments, both electroni-c and electromechanical,are utilized in the detection of underwater objects. These presentlyinclude, among others, the AN/SSQ-37 (XN-2) BUSS, the AN/SSQ-42 (XN- 2)Miniature Sonobuoy and the AN/SSQ-46 (XN-1) Sonobuoy. It should beunderstood that these stores or equipments are of various sizes and manyor all types may be used in a single detection mission. The stores arehand dropped or retro-launched from the conveying aircraft with use ofthe latter method obviously necessitating complicated launchingmechanism to handle the various sizes of stores.

As may be seen by reference to U.S. Patent No. 3,093,808, issued to G.J. Tatnall, A. Scarcelli and G. A. Gimber on I une l1, 1963, the storesof the type discussed a'bove include a large amount of expensive andsensitive electronic apparatus. These equipments are presently packagedat the place of manufacture in expendable storage and shippingcontainers. Prior to loading in the aircraft the equipments `are removedfrom their shipping containers and are then stacked in storage areaswithin the aircraft to await removal therefrom at the time of ultimateuse. This operation necessitates an extreme degree of handling which, ofcourse, reduces equipment reliability to the damage received thereby.When the equipments are removed from the shipping and storagecontainers, they are exposed to ambient conditions. To insurereliability thereof, the exposed equipment must be used Within 30 to 60days, depending upon the nature of the particular equipment, after whichtime period the equipment is destroyed. The satisfaction of theabovestated out-of-container-life requirements has necessitatedcomplexity in equipment design with its concomitant added cost andunreliability.

To obviate the above-noted deleterious conditions, the present inventiondiscloses the use of a novel combination shipping, storage and launchingcontainer having a common form factor for use With the variousequipments presently known and utilized. The novel container seals theequipment therein and is provided With a cap at the forward end of thecontainer having provisions for receiving a propelling force to urge thestore or equipment from the container and a cap at the after end of thecontainer designed to separate therefrom when a predetermined amount offorce is exerted against it. The most significant advantage to berealized from adoption of the proposed container concept is in theincreased reliability of equipment housed therein. This is brought aboutmainly by the elimination of the existing out-of-package requirementsfor the various stores.

Presently a store is on loaded and off loaded from an aircraft manytimes. By this required shifting of the unpackaged store damage couldoccur lby rough handling, accidental dropping or inadvertent exposure tothe elements. Therefore, by utilizing a sealed container as describedbelow, protection against rough handling, shock,

atent rice vibration and exposure to the elements is obtained 4andgreater reliability is inherently provided.

Also, protection against corrosion and fungus is at a maximum when theequipment is in the novel sealed container. Although in current storesthe components are plated or coated with a protective medium, areas ofsur- :faces subjected to abrasion when handled are potentially startingpoints for corrosive and fungus action when the store is out of thepackage.

A further advantage realized by employing this type container is that areduction in the manufacturing cost of the store can be realized. Thissaving is achieved primarily by eliminating the need for sealingbatteries, for potting of cable glands leading to sealed battery areasand for eliminating the speed brake release device as used on theAN/SSQ-42 and the AN/SSQ-37 equipments. Since assembly requirements aremore critical to achieve the sealing protection needed the assemblycosts are reduced accordingly. There is realized also a cost saving dueto elimination of expensive protective finishes required for thepredetermined time out-o-f-package life.

In addition, the shipping, launching container is compatible with thepresently desired retro-launching concept which permits consistentdeployment of the speed brake. By eliminating the air-operated speedbrake release mechanisms the brake is allowed -to immediately deployupon ejection from the tube thereby enhancing placement accuracy.

Lastly, the combination shipping and launching container provides for asimplied launcher design by presenting to the launcher a package ofcommon form factor regardless of the type store to be launched. Thisthen allows not only a single launcher design for the existing storesbut also eliminates the need for new launcher designs or modification ofexisting launchers with the de-l velopment of each new store.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an expendablecontainer for housing an equipment which must be launched prior to theuse thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sealed containerwhich will protect the equipment contained therein during storage,shipment and handling thereof and at the same time provide a devicefor'launching the contained equipment. j

A further object is to provide a sealed combination storage, shippingand launching container of common form factor for enveloping varioustypes and sizes of stores which will provide protection of theequipments contained therein during storage, shipment and handlingthereof and at the same time provide a device for launching theseequipments.

A still further object yof the present invention is to provide areduction in the cost of expendable high volume usage equipments.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide -a sealedcontainer which will provide shock` and Vibration protection to theequipments contained therein until time of use thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sealedcombination shipping, launching and storage container for increasing thereliability of the equipments contained therein.

These and other objects and features of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in thefollowing description of an embodiment of the invention as illustratedin the accompanying sheet of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 represents a partial cross sectional view of the novelcombination, storage and launching container with the breech blockportion of a launcher assembly adjacent thereto;

FIG. 2 represents a detailed cross sectional view of the cartridge ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 represents a modification of the forward cap and breech block ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 represents a cross sectional View of a modified aft cap; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, a package generally indicated at including acontainer 11 and a store 12 contained therein is illustrated adjacent abreech block 13, to be more fully described below. Breech block 13 formsa portion of a launching mechanism, not shown, for ejecting the store 12from the container 11. Since the launcher per se forms no part of thepresent invention, a detailed description will not be provided.

The container 11 encapsulates the store 12 and functions as a storageand shipping container as well as a vehicle from which the store 12 maybe launched. The container 11 includes a right circular cylinder 14sealed at the fore and aft ends thereof by caps 16 and 17, respectively.i

The cylinder 14, per se, may be constructed of any appropriate highstrength-to-weight ratio material such as aluminum or other sheet metal,polycarbonate, polyvinyl, polypropylene, resin impregnated felt, paperlaminate, and filament winding. The caps 16 and 17 may be constructedfrom any strong, shearable, and impervious material such as a phenolicresin, or the like.

In order to negate the possibility of lthe package 10 jamming in thelauncher passages, the caps 16 and 17 have been provided with sphericalend surfaces 16a and 17a, respectively. Adjacent the extreme edges of acap 16 and 17, the spherical surfaces 16a and 17a terminate in sharperangular surfaces 16b and 17 b. These surfaces, together withcomplementary surfaces o-n the launching mechanism, such as surface 13aon breech block 13, serve to guide and properly position the package 10within the launcher. In order to hermetically seal the store 12 withinthe container 11, the forward cap 16 is bonded to the cylinder 14 by acement 19 of appropriate material and characteristics known and used inthe art.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the propelling force for ejecting andlaunching the store 12 from the cylinder 14 is supplied by a cartridgegenerally indicated at 20 and illustrated more clearly in FIG. 2. Acylindrical portion 21 forming `an integral part of forward cap 16threadably receives the cartridge through one end and terminates in afrangible seal 22 at the other end. In order to protect the cartridgefrom stray radiation and to electrically insulate the same, a shield 23of polyethylene or other appropriate material is snap-fitted into groove24 and caps the cartridge 20. The cartridge 20 includes a primer 25 forigniting the propellant charge 25a contained within the body-of thecartridge 20. The primer is ignited through a bridge 26 which is bondedat one end to a conductive center post 27 and at the other end thereofto an annular conducting ring 28, both formed in the base of thecartridge 20. The center post 27 and the annular conducting ring 28 arepositioned to receive a source of electrical energy from probes 13b and13C, respectively, formed as part of the breech block 13. When thecontainer 11 is moved toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, the probes13b and 13C cut through the plastic shield 23 and engage center post 27and annular conducting ring 28, respectively. When current is applied toprobes 13b and 13C, the bridge 26 heats and ignites primer 25 which inturn ignites propellant 25a thereby firing the cartridge 20.

In order to provide consistent ejection of the store 12, a pistongenerally noted at 30 is provided. Piston 30 is of 4dish-likeconfiguration and includes a circumferential skirt or sealing edge 31and a base 32. A plurality of rods 33 are formed integrally with andextend beyond the contines of sealing edge 31 from base 32 for engagingthe edge of cylindrical portion 21 of forward cap 16.

,4 When piston 30 is placed in the operative position with the diskportion facing forwardly, the rods 33 abut cylindrical portion 21 andthe skirt or sealing edge 31 is spaced from cap 16 to prevent damagethereto. The skirt 31 engages the inner side walls of cylinder 14 andforms a seal therewith for preventing the escape of the pressuregenerated for launching the store 12.

A forward spacer element generally noted at 36 is interposed betweenpiston 30 and store 12 for properly positioning the center of gravity ofstore 12 within the container 10 and to give radial support from shockand vibration to the store 12. The size and configuration of spacer 36depends upon the nature and size of the store to be interposed Withincontainer 10. The forward spacer element 36 includes a forward convexsurface 37 for engaging the base 32 of piston 30 and a rearward or aftfacing surface 38 of concave configuration for receiving the sphericalnose of the store 12. The outer extremities of surfaces 37 and 38 arebonded by an annular rim 39 having a diameter substantially the same asthe inner diameter of cylinder 14. Spacer 36 is diametrically split at39a to form two equal segments. By reasons of this arrangement theadverse effects upon the aerodynamic stability of the store iseliminated since a positive separation of the spacer and piston from thestore will occur simultaneously with ejection of the store from thelauncher.

Store 12 is of the type described above and includes speed or divebrakes 12a at the rear thereof for retarding the descent of the store.The speed or dive brakes may be of the type illustrated in U.S. PatentNo. 3,047,259, issued to G. J. Tatnall and A. F. Scarcelli on July 31,1962, and Patent No. 3,114,315, issued to W. E. Trump on December 17,1963.

An aft spacer generally noted at 40 is interposed between the store 12and the aft cap 17 for purposes of shock mitigation and storepositioning. The spacer 40 includes forward and aft disks 41 ofFiberglas or the like bonded to a plurality of cushioning elements 42interposed therebetween. Although two cushioning elements 42 areillustrated in FIG. 1 it should be understood that the number of theseelements would depend upon the size of the store positioned within thecontainer 11. The cushioning elements 42 are constructed of a resilient,compressible and shock absorbing material such as silicone sponge rubberor the like and the individual cushioning elements are bonded togetherto preclude slipping with respect to each other. The spacer element 40thereby constructed both cushions and protects the enclosed store 12against impact and vibration. By selection of appropriate spacerthickness, the store 12 may also be positioned so that the center ofgravity of the package 10 will be properly located. This is important toprovide the launcher, not shown, with a package of common form factorregardless of the type store in the container 11.

The aft cap 17 is formed with an outer annular rim 50 which in turnincludes an annular projection 51 and an adjacent annular groove 52formed on the exterior surface thereof. Cylinder 14 has an interiornotch 53 formed therein compatible with the projection 51 formed on cap17 for obtaining a snaplock fastening of the cap 17 to the cylinder 14.The notch 53 and projection 51 are designed to permit separation `of thecap from the cylinder when a predetermined amount of force is exertedagainst the cap. An O-ring 55 positioned within groove 52 -seals thecontainer and thereby eliminates breathing of the container withvariation of aircraft altitude. Furthermore, the store 12 containedtherein is thereby protected against moisture, corrosion and fungus. Inorder to insure uniform application of ejection forces to the aft cap17, a plurality of rods 57 formed integrally as part of cap 17 extendforwardly and abut disk 41. The rim 50 also extends forward to aposition abutting the disk 41.

In operation, the package is positioned within the launcher, not shown,and urged forwardly against breech block 13. Mating and complementarysurfaces 16h and 13a position the package 10 with respect to the breechblock and continued forward movement of the package 10 causes probes 13band 13C to penetrate seal 23 and Ithereby ignite the propelling charge25a as described above. The ensuing pressure exerts a force against thepiston 30 which transmits the same through the store 12 and spacer 40 toremove the aft cap 17 and permit free ejection of the store 12 from thecontainer 11. Simultaneous with the ejection of the store 12 from thelauncher, forward spacer 36 insures separation of the spacer and pistonfrom the store and eliminates any adverse aerodynamic eiects on thestability of the store that might otherwise occur.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified forward cap arrangement 60 for permittingpneumatic ejection of the store 12 from its container 14. The breechblock 61 receives a -source of pneumatic pressure through conduit 61aand includes a tapered nose portion 61b forming a seal with an O-ring 63when the package is moved by the launcher, not shown, toward the b-reechblock 61. O-ring 63 is seated within a groove 64 formed on the sphericalsurface of cap 60. The cylindrical section 65 of cap 60 is sealed at theaft end thereof by a frangible seal 67 which is formed integrally withthe forward cap 60 and Aof the nature to rupture when a predetermined,preset fo-rce is applied thereto.

As in FIG. 1, the forward cap 60 is cemented at 19 to the cylindricalbody 14 and piston 30 and spacer 36 are similarly utilized as describedabove.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified arrangement for joining the aft cap to thecontainer cylinder 14 and for removing the same therefrom. The novel aftcap assembly now to be described hermetically seals the container 11 andthe store 12 contained therein is protected against moisture, corrosionand fungus. In this embodiment a cap generally noted at 70 is cementedby an appropriate bonding means to the end of the cylinder 14 andincludes a diametrically extending bead 72 extending inwardly of theouter spherical surface 70a thereof. A scalloped cutter noted at 75 andillust-rated in FIG. 5 is interposed between spacer 40 and cap 70 forsevering the cap 70 upon receipt of a predetermined amount of pressureexerted thereon through spacer 40. The cutter 7S includes acircumferential knife portion 78 for cutting the cap 70 and a centralportion 79 formed to abut the bead 72 in cap 70.

Since the package 10 is substantially symmetrical means are provided tounmistakably identify one end of the package from the other. Otherwisethere exists the possibility of loading the container in the launcherwith the store orientation opposite to its intended launch direction. Inorder to identify the proper end of the package a guide pin 80 is formedat the end of the launcher magazine opening. When the package isproperly oriented the bead 72 in the cap passes the pin 80 whileimproper orientation of the package will not permit the same to bepassed into the magazine of the launcher. Additionally, the bead 72 andcenter section 79 combination will indicate the penetration of thecutter within the cap 70 in the event the package is accidently droppedsince any cutter penetration will cause the bead 72 to be pushedoutwardly. This may be visually noted prior to placing the package 10into the launcher or will be spotted by the guide pin 89 when an attemptis made to place a package within the launcher. Notation of cutterpenetration is necessary to indicate that the hermetic seal has beenbroken and the store contained within the package has been subjected todeteriorating forces. This factor would necessitate disposal of theequipment contained therein.

In addition to the package 10 being sealed, the container may be iilledwith a dry inert gas, evacuated, or

'6 packaged and sealed in an atmosphere of controlled temperature andhumidity.

In view of the novel container described above a store may Ibe protectedand sealed from extern-al deteriorating environmental forces and may bemaintained in this condition until use thereof. Furthermore, the novelcontainer described above provides a package of common form factorregardless of the type store placed in the container, this beingobtained through the use of spacers which additionally provide shockinsulation to the store contained within the package. Also properutilization of the spacers permits within an allowable range a cornmoncenter of gravity location for the package. This allows not only asingle launcher design for the various stores now in use but for allfuture stores as well and eliminates the need for new launcher designsor mOdiiication of existing launchers wit-h the development of each newstore. In addition, the container is compatible with the retrolaunchingconcept now utilized for launching airborne stores which concept permitsconsistent deployment of the speed brake. By eleminating theair-operated speed brake release mechanisms, as is accomplished by thenovel container, the brake is allowed to immediately deploy uponejection from the launching tube, thereby enhancing placement accuracy.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teaching. It is therefore to beunderstood that within thescope of the appended claims the invention maybe practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination shipping, storage and launching container for use witha launcher employed in launching stores sensitive to shock and vibrationand subject to deteriorating eifects of moisture, fungus, under ambientconditions comprising:

a hollow member for housing the store;

a first cap sealing one end of said hollow member,

said cap having meansv centrally located thereon Vfor receiving a sourceof launching pressure;

a piston spaced inwardly of said first cap, said piston including asealing lip on the outer extremity thereof engaging the interior surfaceof said hollow member;

a first spacer means interposed between said piston and the store forcushioning and positioning l[the center of gravity of the latter withinsaid hollow member;

a second cap sealing the other end of said hollow member, said capincluding notch means on the outer surface thereof for insuring properpositioning of said container within the launcher;

cutter means within said hollow mem-ber and adjacent said second cap forsevering the same and permitting ejection of the store upon receiving apredetermined launching pressure;

and a second spacer means interposed between the store and said cutter,said rst and second spacer means comprising resilient, compressible andshock absorbing material for cushioning and positioning the center ofgravity of the store within said hollow member.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said hollow member is cylindrical inshape and said iirst and second caps are substantially symmetrical andare bonded to the ends thereof to hermetically seal said hollowcylindrical member.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein said means on said first cap forreceiving the source of launching pressure includes a frangible sealwhich is ruptured when a predetermined launching pressure sourceis-applied thereto.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein;

said sealing lip of said piston is spaced from said cap;

and wherein said piston includes centrally disposed rod means integraltherewith extending outwardly 4for enaging said rst cap means.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein;

the diameter of said first spacer is substantially equal to the diameterof said cylindrical hollow member;

and wherein said spacer includes a forward surface abutting said pistonand a rearward surface substantially conforming to the contiguration ofthe store being supported.

6. A combination shipping, storage and launching container for use witha launcher employed in launching stores sensitive to shock and vibrationand subject to deteriorating effects of moisture, fungus, under ambientconditions comprising:

a hollow member having a cylindrical shape for housing the store;

a first cap sealing one end of said hollow member, said cap having meansfor receiving a source of launch- .ing pressure including a frangibleseal which is ruptured when a predetermined lanching pressure source isapplied therto;

a piston spaced inwardly of said rst cap, said piston comprising asealing lip on the outer extremity thereof engaging the Iinteriorsurface of said hollow member and in spaced relationship with said firstcap and centrally disposed rod means integral therewith extendingoutwardly for engaging said rst cap;

`a first spacer means having a diameter substantially equal 'to thediameter of said hollow member and interposed vbetween said piston andsaid store for cushioning and positioning the center of gravity of thelatter within said hollow member, said spacer having a forward surfaceabutting said piston and a rearward surface substantially conforming tothe configuration of the store bein-g supported;

a second cap sealing the other end of said hollow member, said capincluding notch means on the outer surface thereof for insuring properpositioning of said container within the launcher;

cutter means within said hollow member and adjacent said second cap forsevering the same and permitting ejection of the store upon receiving apredetermined launching pressure;

a second spacer `means interposed between the store and said cuttermeans for cushioning and positioning the cen-ter of gravity of the storewithin sai-d hollow mem-ber;

said notch means on said second cap extending inwardly of said hollowcylinder;

and wherein said cutter includes a center portion normally abutting saidnotch means.

7. The container of claim 6 further comprising:

braking means positioned on the rearward portion of said store forretardin-g the descent of the store and thereby enhancing placementaccuracy.

8. The container of claim 6 wherein said means for receiving a source oflaunching pressure comprises:

a cartridge having a primer for igniting a propellant charge within saidcartridge for ejecting said sto-re upon the explosion of saidpropellant, said primer actuated by a source of electrical energy.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS References Citedby the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/ 1957 C-lauser et al. 9/ 1963Knacke et al.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Examiner.

1. A COMBINATION SHIPPING, STORAGE AND LAUNCHING CONTAINER FOR USE WITHA LAUNCHER EMPLOYED IN LAUNCHING STORES SENSITIVE TO SHOCK AND VIBRATIONAND SUBJECT TO DETERIORATING EFFECTS OF MOISTURE, FUNGUS, UNDER AMBIENTCONDITIONS COMPRISING: A HOLLOW MEMBER FOR HOUSING THE STORE; A FIRSTCAP SEALING ONE END OF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER, SAID CAP HAVING MEANSCENTRALLY LOCATED THEREON FOR RECEIVING A SOURCE OF LAUNCHING PRESSURE;A PISTON SPACED INWARDLY OF SAID FIRST CAP, SAID PISTON INCLUDING ASEALING LIP ON THE OUTER EXTREMITY THEREOF ENGAGING THE INTERIOR SURFACEOF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER; A FIRST SPACER MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAIDPISTON AND THE STORE FOR CUSHIONING AND POSITIONING THE CENTER OFGRAVITY OF THE LATTER WITHIN SAID HOLLOW MEMBER; A SECOND CAP SEALINGTHE OTHER END OF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER, SAID CAP INLCUDING NOTCH MEANS ONTHE OUTER SURFACE THEREOF FOR INSURING PROPER POSITIONING OF SAIDCONTAINER WITHIN THE LAUNCHER; CUTTER MEANS WITHIN SAID HOLLOW MEMBERAND ADJACENT SAID SECOND CAP FOR SEVERING THE SAME AND PERMITTINGEJECTION OF THE STORE UPON RECEIVING A PREDETERMINED LAUNCHING PRESSURE;AND A SECOND SPACER MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE STORE AND SAID CUTTER,SAID FIRST AND SECOND SPACER MEANS COMPRISING RESILIENT, COMPRESSIBLEAND SHOCK ABSORBING MATERIAL FOR CUSHIONING AND POSITIONING THE CENTEROF GRAVITY OF THE STORE WITHIN SAID HOLLOW MEMBER.